Wednesday, December 23, 2009

I got this in my email the other day from Mama Akua, who is the widow of Chairman Fred Hampton Sr. Mama was pregnant with the now Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. when the Chicago Police Department ambushed them on December 4, 1969. See previous post for more info!

Enjoy the mental meal and by all means send to a bunch of friends. If we can forward corny chain emails, surely we can spread the TRUTH.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

This is the eve of the night on which the Chicago Police Department, through J. Edgar Hoover's/FBI endorsed COINTELPRO, that Deputy Chairman Fred Hampton Sr. and Defense Captain Mark Clark were ambushed and assassinated while they slept; Chairman Fred in bed with his pregnant wife. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of "The Murder On Monroe".

These men were two YOUNG courageous members of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. They embodied the character and personality that is so lacking in the youth of our black communities today. They were men devoted to their families and to the pursuit of freedom and justice. Instead of promoting and exploiting the ignorance and troubles that we endure, they fought to create unity around these common issues that were affecting us across the country. They created the free breakfast and health screening for our children. While Chicago sought to lock up (or kill) the street's Lords, Stones and Disciples, Fred and Mark along with the BPP sought to organize, politicize and unify them through various community outreach and development programs.

Being a threat to the government's COINTELPRO politics that were designed to destabilize, discredit and destroy black leaders, and to "...prevent the rise of a Black Messiah...", it was obvious that they had to be killed.

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I was introduced to Chairman Fred Jr. about 7 years ago through a mutual friend I had been doing artwork for. I was very familiar with Chairman Fred Sr.'s story prior to this meeting, so it was nothing less than a pleasure to be able to shake hands and build with his son over dinner.

Later in the year, while in Chicago for a family reunion, I had to convinced my cousin to take me through his "opposing neighborhood". If you know the slightest bit about Chicago, if you represent a 6, you're usually not chillin' somewhere where 5's are being repped...lol. But he took me and it would be my first official meeting with Chairman Fred Jr. and his mother, "Mama" Akua Njeri. Here we discussed me playing a role in their National Revolutionary Day, a yearly memorial for the "Murder On Monroe". This would be the beginning of a 7 year working relationship with the family providing creative support in the form of flyer design.

I also had my younger cousin with me, and it was a beautiful thing b/c he wasn't familiar with the legacy of Fred Hampton. Surely I had drilled him on the Black Panther Party and the general importance of that movement, but as I met with Mama and Fred Jr., The Assassination Of Fred Hampton played in the background for my cousin to consume. He had now become one of what should be MANY young black men who have been enlightened by these fearless soldiers.

I think if OUR media and music focused on the likes of the REAL GHETTO SOLDIERS, the ones who fight (and not conform to) the system by any means necessary, the current and future leaders in our communities would be just as courageous and fearless. They would be more responsible brothers, fathers, uncles, cousins. Instead of the next Jay Z, we really need the reincarnation of the spirit that ran through the blood of Chair Fred Hampton and Deputy Mark Clark. The amazing fact is that Fred was a young 21 years old, Mark 22, when they were murdered. What they accomplished at that age is something divine to me...

But until that spirit rises, Rest In Freedom gentlemen. I'm sad to say that as a community we've gone backwards from what you sacrificed your lives for, but I am also proud to say that it definitely was not in vane. Not all of us have been consumed and programmed by the world society that seeks to destroy us as it sought to destroy you.

"You can kill the revolutionary, but you can't kill the revolution."- Chairman Fred Hampton, August 30, 1948 – December 4, 1969

Monday, October 19, 2009

Today didn't start off great like some of my other days. As a matter of fact, the day started off not good at all. I know I possess the power to control the outcome, and so I began to reflect on these photos my friend Allison took of me while I was with here 5th/6th grade students last week.

This was definitely one of the most joyous times I've had in a while. Children are always a good source for positive energy. Especially this group of kids. Many of them lost family (mothers, brothers, sisters, fathers) is some war over some dumb shit probably. But their spirits were so strong and positive. They began sharing some of their stories and honestly, I wanted to shed a tear. One of the young girls was on her way to "freedom" when a bomb hit the camp they were at, killing most, if not all of her family. But her spirit poured positive energy into the project we were working on, and so I had to take a note from this young lady for changing the course of my day today.

I had the chance to speak to the kids about the art of sketching, as well as participate in an assignment they had started prior to me coming. Since I was behind on the linoleum burnishing project, one of the great joys was having one of the students "teach" me his technique, which really helped me make my way through.

I am very proud of myself for taking the time to share my skill and experience with these kids. They showed the utmost appreciation and were very attentive. Far better than some of these BS clients/people I have to deal with! But more importantly, I am thankful that these children have found a good way to channel their stories into their artwork. I know what it means to be able to unleash the negativity in the form of a beautiful piece of work.

Extra special thanks to my good friend Allison for inviting me out and taking these great pics. Thanks also to my creative comrade Goldi Gold for inspiring me to write this blog. I didn't really intend on doing anything other than post the pics, but it was a pleasure to share this with you!

Friday, May 29, 2009

If you're somewhere around 28 and up, and were submerged in all things hip-hop back in the late 80's and early 90's, then MC BREED wouldn't be a name foreign to your eardrum. "Big Baller" Eric Breed was most familiar for his chart breaking, "Ain't No Future In Yo' Frontin'", but had a discography that played soundtrack to many of our growing up experiences.

So a few weeks ago, as i was sitting in the studio working on a project for my homie Wayniac, i noticed a photo of him and Breed on his computer. i proceeded to tell him how I grew up listening to Breed, and so he began to talk about the birthday/memorial celebration he was helping his Breed's wife Tasha put together. Knowing that this is the season of the Gemini, i mentioned to Wayniac something about that being his reason for being so dope, since i myself am a Gemini...and pretty dope! So Wayniac mentions that Breed's birthday was June 12th, same day as mine. i found that to be quite interesting and a little more than coincidence, so i told Wayniac that i'd like to do the flyer for the event. He was sure to let me know there was no budget to pay for designing the flyer, but i let him know that the money didn't matter. i felt it would be a good deed for an artist i respected and whose music i grew up on.

Honestly, i think it's a decent job to serve the purpose. Tasha (Breed's wife) however, was very appreciative. She even pointing out various details in the design she liked that i took for granted. Nevertheless, i'm glad i had the opportunity to work this out for her, and for all the fans who will come out Thursday, June 11th to pay homage to the late great MC Eric Breed.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Online I spell it as "mistersoul216" because the period in the "mr." can sometimes throw things off in the net world. I tag it as "mr.soul" because it's quick and simple. It represents my style of art and my personality. And the 216 represents Tha Land that I am from..."Thieveland™". If ya don't know, betta ask somebody...

Where did the name come from? I'm asked this many times, so here's the official story, complete with a fresh new piece I will be using to further brand the name and myself.

So, back in '95 during my creative creep on a come up in Cleveland, I was the go-to guy for my homeboy and Cleveland legend DJ CENTIPEDE. 'Pede was known for throwing the very successful MIX MASTER MASSACRE DJ Battles back then and he provided me with the opportunity to get my work out by doing the flyers for the event. In the process of this, 'Pede used to always call me and say, "What up Mr.Soul?". It was his version of greeting me as my company (which was Visual Soul). I never really thought much about it, but then I moved to Atlanta, and my homeboy BJ Kerr followed suit. So I took it as something to embrace and to represent..

So at that point I decided that I had to give it meaning. I carved out a few acronyms to further break down the SOUL, one of them being Student Of Universal Law/Love. The others I can't share yet because there are people out there sharpening their teeth, waitin' to bite!

In addition to the acronyms, I decided that everything I designed or created should embody the definition of soul. It should be fluid and have movement, invoke emotion, and MEAN SOMETHING. I was heavily inspired by the movement of Atlanta's Dungeon Family around the same time, and so that music background provided me with the motivation and inspiration necessary to create. I wanted my artwork to visually represent what I heard through the music of Outkast, Goodie MOb., Society Of Soul, etc.

And so that's how the name came about and what it means! And now, the art...

Greetings people. So sorry for the 2 month hiatus on my blogisms. A brotha been bus juggling a few projects and sanity. A lot has gone down since the last post, so much that I don't feel like updating EVERYTHING...lol. But I'm going to try to keep up again.

Friday, March 6, 2009

I worked up this sketch last night and fine tuned it today. I'm gonna work on this and try to knock it out over the weekend. I need a break and breath of fresh air from work and deadlines. Shit is wreckin' my brain!

The title is "(Love) No More" and it will be a 30x24 acrylic painting on canvas. I haven't done any letters in ages so to re-tap my graffiti roots I went in on this. "(Love) No More" is somewhat of a prequel to another piece I've been working on, "Love's Destruction" which is a little more complex. I wanted to have fun with the next painting since my "I Pledge Allegiance..." piece was so intense, so I'll enjoy the simplicity of freakin' these letters.

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Who I Am

On a professional level, I am self-motivated hustler of trill creative skillz that range from design and illustration to fine art and computer graphics.

I have spent much of my professional life operating as an independent creative studio called VISUAL SOUL (Creative Lab). That journey has led me to the opportunity to provide creative services for many artists/companies within the entertainment industry whose work, music or movement i've followed or respected.

I spend much of my time in front of my MacBook Pro or some type of apparatus that will allow me to vent my creative energies. When I'm not doing that, I'm at The City Of Ink with my creative crew and comrades conversing about the beauties and struggles of life, and the world which we intend to conquer.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoy your experience into my mind and art...